Hundreds of free activities available for children and young people this Easter

Bookings are now open for The Big Norfolk Holiday Fun (opens new window), a programme of free activities that will run over the Easter holidays for 5-16-year-olds across Norfolk.

The scheme is provided as part of the government's Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme and is being delivered by Norfolk County Council in partnership with Active Norfolk.

After the success of HAF over the Christmas break and some brilliant feedback from parents, it's returning from 4 April though till 19 April with free activities for children eligible for means-tested free school meals. There'll be a fantastic range of activities taking place including outdoor adventure sports, dance and drama and circus skills across the county. With so many activities on offer, children will have an excellent range of ventures to take part in and may even discover a new passion.

Tim Eyres, Assistant Director of Commissioning and Partnerships said "During 2021 we saw over 7,500 families benefit from the opportunity to take part in a wide range of activities in the school holidays, and we had some great feedback from children and their parents or carers which is helping us to further develop the holiday programme. We want to enable children and young people across the county to try new things and make new friends and we know it is a welcome support for many families during the school holidays.

"We are really pleased with the number of organisations who have stepped forward to be part of The Big Norfolk Holiday Fun programme which means that the programme can offer exciting opportunities for children and young people in Norfolk."

The sessions offer children the chance to learn and develop new skills, alongside receiving a free nutritious lunch each day. Booking is on a first-come-first-served basis, with limited spaces for many activities, so families should book soon to avoid disappointment.

Cllr John Fisher, Cabinet Member for Children's Services, said "The Big Norfolk Holiday Fun is full of exciting opportunities for children and families across Norfolk to get involved in. It's great to see such a wide variation of activities which are sure to interest many young people."

"With so many organisations involved, the scheme is an exciting collaboration and will be a great opportunity for children and young people to make the most of their time off school, make new friends and try out some new things."

Parents will be sent promotional codes from their children's school which they'll need to use online to book their children onto an activity. Families are encouraged to explore the wide range of activities available and book as soon as possible.

Bookings open on Monday 21 February, details of the activities available and further information on how to book can be found at The Big Norfolk Holiday Fun on Active Norfolk (opens new window).